LEAVING CERTIFICATE SUBJECT CHOICE Leaving Certificate Programme Leaving
LEAVING CERTIFICATE SUBJECT CHOICE
Leaving Certificate Programme • Leaving Certificate is a 2 year programme. • Full time commitment required over 2 years. • 5 th year is very important especially for those hoping to gain entry to high points courses. • Usually a maximum of 7 subjects are taken for the Leaving Certificate. • An 8 th Extra subject? Applied Maths, Music, Ag. Sc. , Religion • Best 6 subjects are counted for points. • Almost all subjects are of equal importance. • 25 extra points will be awarded by the universities and ITs for a score above a H 6 Maths (> 40%)
Points System Honours Points Honours Grade % Bands Ordinary Grade Ordinary Points 100 H 1 90 - 100 O 1 56 88 H 2 80 - 89 O 2 46 77 H 3 70 - 79 O 3 37 66 H 4 60 - 69 O 4 28 56 H 5 50 - 59 O 5 20 46 H 6 40 - 49 O 6 12 37 H 7 30 - 39 O 7 0 0 H 8 0 - 29 O 8 0
Points System Bonus points LCVP points H 6 (40%) or above in Maths Extra 25 points Distinction 66 H 4 Merit 46 O 2/H 6 Pass 28 O 4
Sample Calculation Paul Subject Level Grade Score Irish H 3 77 English O 1 56 Maths H 2 88+25=113 Geography H 2 88 Biology H 3 77 Physics O 2 46 French H 2 88 LCVP C Merit 46 Add the 6 best scores shown in RED Points = 499
Leaving Certificate Programme • Highly Desirable Subjects • Unless there is a substantial reason otherwise, all students should definitely consider choosing: 1. a modern language (NUI/UL/TCD) 2. a science subject. • Subject Levels • Higher and Ordinary level all subjects. • Foundation level Mathematics & Irish. • Particular care needs to be taken with Mathematics. Failure in this subject can be detrimental to overall L. C. • LC subject selection • Core subjects: English, Mathematics & Irish* • Optional subjects: Usually 4 other subjects are chosen
Optional Subjects (4 from 15) BUSINESS APPLIED SCIENCES • Business 71 • Home Economics 9 • Accountancy 36 • Construction Studies 32 • Economics 37 • Design and Communication SCIENCE • Biology 86 • Physics 42 • Chemistry 24 LANGUAGES • French 57 • German 42 Graphics 30 • Physical Education SOCIAL STUDIES • History 44 • Geography 45 • Music 16 • Art 27 Information on LC subjects www. careersportal. ie
Entry Requirements • When choosing Leaving Certificate subjects: • great care must be taken as the choices of subjects made now may determine 3 rd level and career options in 2 years time. • Why? • Regardless of how many points you get in your LC, you will be ineligible to even apply for a course if you have not met it’s “Course Entry Requirements” • Meet Course Entry Requirements Qualified Applicant for Course
Minimum Entry Requirements of major CAO Colleges Institution NUI Colleges: UCD, MU, Minimum grades Required subjects 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 O 6/H 7 in Eng, Irish & Modern Language*. Trinity College Dublin 3 H 5 + 3 O 6 O 6/H 7 in Maths, Eng & another Language University of Limerick 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 O 6/H 7 in Maths, Eng. & Irish or another Lang. Dublin City University 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 O 6/H 7 in Maths, Eng or Irish TU Dublin 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 (H. D. ) 5 O 6 (O. D. or H. C. ) O 6/H 7 in Maths, Eng or Irish Regional Institutes of Technology (DK*) 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 (H. D. ) 5 O 6 (O. D. or H. C. ) O 6/H 7 in Maths, Eng or Irish NUIG, UCC. (RCSI, Shannon)
Specific Course Requirements • Specific L. C. subjects / grades required for entry to particular courses. • They tend to be in the following subject areas: • Science subjects • Languages • Mathematics • E. g. Veterinary Medicine in UCD Entry Requirements: • 2 H 5 + 4 O 6, O 6/H 7 in English, Irish, Modern Language & Mathematics, H 5 in Chemistry.
Sample Requirements Irish • Primary Teaching – H 4 • Irish & Journalism (DCU) – H 4 A Language • Many courses require a language but may not specify a particular one: • Early and Modern Irish (TCD) – H 4 • Irish & Journalism(DCU) – H 4 French • Law with French Law (UCD) – H 3 • Bus. Studies and French (TCD) – H 3 • Law and French (TCD) – H 3 • International Tourism & Languages (TUD) – H 3 in Ge, Sp, Ir, It, Ch or Fr. • Applied Languages (DCU) – H 4 in Fr or Ge or Sp. • Speech and Language Therapy (TCD) – H 4 in En, Fr, Ge, Ir, It, Ru or Sp. • Cadet School – O 6/H 7 in a modern Language.
Sample Requirements Mathematics • Honours Engineering – H 4 • Business Studies (DCU) – O 4/H 6 • Quantitative Finance (MAY) – O 1/H 5 • Economics & Finance (UCD) – H 4 • Business (TCD) – O 4/H 6 • • • Science Particular care needs to be taken with science subjects. Many courses require any one science subject Some courses require 2 science subjects, particularly TCD and UCC. UCAS courses Nursing – O 6/H 7 in a Lab. Sc. Medical/Para medical courses • Science (UCD) – O 2/H 6 • Commerce (UCD) – O 2/H 6 • Financial Maths (UL) – H 3 Chemistry • Pharmacy – H 4 TCD & UCC, H 5 RCSI • Human Nutrition, Medicine & Dentistry (UCC) – H 4, Veterinary Medicine - H 5
Specific Course Requirements • Unlikely that you will know exactly, which courses you wish to pursue at this stage. • But from looking at your interests, abilities and aptitudes you may be able to identify broad areas of interest and hence check potential course entry requirements. • Course Entry Requirements can be accessed: • a) In the college’s prospectuses b) On the college’s websites c) Directory of LC Entry Requirements – Careers Office d) www. qualifax. ie - Subject Requirements It is only when all course entry requirements are met that students are qualified to apply for a course.
Inside Eirquest Report • Personal Interest Profile of relevant career areas
Subject Selection Chart
General Advice If a you are not really sure what you want to do in the future: Pick a broad range of subjects in order to keep options open • E. g. • one language • one science • one business • one humanities / applied science. • This combination would Many students will change their minds about their future a number of times in the next 2 years allow access into a broad range of courses/careers.
Choosing a Subject A wise choice of subjects requires: L. C. Books, Guidance Classes, Other Students RESEARCH Subject Teachers, Web, TY Prog. , Publications Guidance Counsellors, Current Teachers DISCUSSION Parents, Friends Consider all the information, views and opinions REFLECTION DECISION Then, ultimately each student must make up their own mind.
Choosing a Subject Key Questions 1. What subjects is the school offering? 2. If I’m interested in a particular course/career area, what subjects are essential? ( Course Entry Requirements) 3. If not essential, what subjects would be useful/helpful for this course/career area? (useful vs. points) 4. What subjects do I like? (motivation) (not the teacher) 5. What subjects am I relatively good at? (DATs) (JC)
Important Points • DCG/Construction Studies are not needed to do Engineering. Maths and Physics are more important. • Art is generally not needed for Art and Design courses. A portfolio is however. • For Business courses, Maths is generally a requirement rather than Business subjects. • • Every student is a unique bundle of interests, abilities and aptitudes, hence they should choose subjects based on these and not current friendships or the opinions of others. • Learning vs. understanding subjects. • Students should be aware of balancing subjects which help maximise points vs. subjects which may be of benefit to them in the future.
Consequences of poor Subject Choice • Student may be quite unhappy in the subject for 2 years and hence motivation will be a recurring issue. • Student may not do well in subject and the overall grade may be impacted on. • Student may end up not having a subject they need for a particular career/college course they are interested in. • In 5 th year student may want to change to another subject. We will try to facilitate this where we think it is the best option, however, we may not always be able to do this. • Changing a subject 6/8/10 weeks into 5 th year has a lot of disadvantages and should be avoided if at all possible.
Newbridge College Subjects Accounting History Business Geography Economics Music Biology Home Economics Chemistry Art Physics Physical Education French Construction Studies German Design and Communications Graphics
Timetable of Events 1. Dec 2019 – Students completed Eirquest 2. Jan 27 th to 30 th – Subject teacher presentations 3. Jan 28 th – Parents presentation 4. Jan 29 th – Prefects presentations to TYs 5. Jan 30 th – Guidance presentations to TYs 6. Jan 30 th – TY Parent/Teacher Meeting 7. Feb 12 th – Deadline for Subject Choices Form 8. Feb 24 th – Subject Choice review meetings begin
Subject Choice Procedure 1. 2. 3. 4. Students complete and return Subject Choice Form by Thursday February 12 th Parents must sign this form. Subject Choice Form information used to generate optimum lines. During subject choice interview a review of subject choices. (based on assessment information and subject combinations available) 5. 6. If a change required from original subject choices a note brought home to parent outlining new subjects. Parents to check, sign and return to G. C. within 2 days.
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